September 28, 1990

Purpose:

It is the purpose of this Presidential Directive to assurethat
San José State University continues to comply with all Federal
and State legislation and California State University policies
regarding the provision of services to students with
disabilities.

This Presidential Directive has been developed in response to
Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973; State
ofCalifornia ACR 201 (1976); ACR 3 (1985); A8746 (1987); and
California State University AAES 89-07 "Policy for the Provision of
Services to Students with Disabilities."

History:

Since 1972 the University has had a Disabled Student Services
Program that provides counseling and support services for students
who have physical, emotional, learning and other verified
disabilities. To assist the University in making reasonable
accommodations, Disabled Student Services provides diagnostic
assessment, reader services, specialized test taking arrangements,
transcription services, specialized tutoring services, and both
note-takers and sign-language interpreters. In addition, Disabled
Student Services provides disability related counseling and
advising, and access to computers and other technological
assistance adapted to disabilities.

Guidelines:

In San José State University's provision of services to
students with disabilities the guiding principle is that of
“reasonable accommodation”: that is, the University is
required to make

adjustments to the known physical and mental limitations of
otherwise qualified disabled students, unless it can be
demonstrated that a particular adjustment or alteration would
impose undue hardship on the operation of the program or course
curriculum. The intent is to “level the playing field,”
not to guarantee the outcome of the student's educational
endeavor.

The University views the provision of reasonable accommodation
as a cooperative effort, involving faculty, staff, and
students.

It is the responsibility of students with disabilities to do
the following:

Identify themselves and provide verification of their
disability to Disabled Student Services.

Providetesting and evaluation results dated no more than
three years prior to the date on which the student requests
accommodation for learning disabilities.

Take, in a timely manner, the recommendations of Disabled
Student Services for accommodation to the office or faculty
member from whom accommodation or support services are
requested.

Abide by departmental, school, and University policies
and academic regulations, as all students are expected to
do.

It is the responsibility of Disabled Student Services to do
the following:

Keep confidential records for each disabled student.

Provide disability-related counseling and advising.

Provide access, where feasible, to computers and other
technological adaptations to disabilities.

Identify and recommend reasonable accommodations for
students with disabilities, including verified learning
disabilities.

It is the responsibility of academic departments to do the
following:

Faculty members are to make reasonable accommodation for
students with disabilities, including verified learning
disabilities.

Faculty members should consult with the Director of
Disabled Student Services regarding specific recommendations
for accommodation for an individual student, particularly if
special test-taking procedures or adaptations for testing are
involved.

Faculty members, in consultation with their Department
Chair, are to determine whether the recommended accommodation
is reasonable, or if it demonstrably would impose undue
hardship on the operation of the program or course
curriculum.

The Department Chair is to keep a confidential record of
all accommodations recommended by Disabled Student Services
and made for students with disabilities.

Conflict Resolution:

Students with disabilities who wish to appeal a denial of
requested accommodation should first employ informal means to
resolve the conflict, by consulting with the academic department or
other office involved and with Disabled Student Services. If an
informal resolution is not possible, the student may meet with the
University Ombudsman to determine the appropriateness of a formal
appeal to the Student Grievance Committee or the Academic Fairness
Committee.